This is perhaps the single most important aspect of understanding rhythm and rhythmic guitar playing. One must remember that any instrument is to a certain degree a “percussion” instrument, and that it’s the constant and unrelenting rhythm of the right hand that determines the true sound of the rhythm lick, and that also carries over into the lead fills and licks as well.

This great lick I learned right from Roy Buchanan’s first LP for Polydor, titled Roy Buchanan, from 1972. It’s a great example of how a country lick technique can be applied to the blues. It also illustrates the usage of a half-step or single-fret bend in place of a whole-step bend.

I would like to start off our lessons together with an examination of two critical sets of scales. Again and again, I will be referring to and building upon these scales for a vast range of lessons in all different styles and genres, and they will also be extremely useful and powerful tools for you to open up your playing across the entire length of the fret board.

Some of my favorite licks to play or teach, these really put hybrid picking to the test! The feel has to be just right, and I’ll make sure you get the correct left and right hand syncopation. It’s one of those cool positions that’s like riding a bike, once you’ve got it you’ll never “unlearn” it!

This great and influential lick utilizes the “claw” or hybrid-picking style to its fullest. Often associated with tunes like “My Baby Left Me,” “See See Rider” and, of course, “Mystery Train,” this lick has kicked off more jams than probably any other rhythm part in history.